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Blanton posted a 9.49 ERA before going down with a shoulder injury last month. He'll be used in low-leverage situations initially. Sun, Jun 11, 2017 01:14:00 PM

Joe Blanton (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Wednesday.

Blaton reported no ill effects after the bullpen. He is working his way back from right shoulder inflammation. A minor league rehab assignment could be coming down the pike very soon. The veteran right-hander had struggled to a 9.49 ERA in 12 1/3 innings prior to hitting the disabled list two weeks ago. Wed, May 31, 2017 08:27:00 PM

As noted by Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post, Blanton was playing catch with teammate Sammy Solis (elbow) as both pitchers are working their way back from injuries. Blanton struggled to the tune of a 9.49 ERA through 12 1/3 innings before landing on the disabled list last week with right shoulder inflammation. The Nationals haven't mapped out a specific timetable for his return, but he's already moving in the right direction. Tue, May 23, 2017 02:43:00 PM

Blanton last pitched on May 13 and was struggling to a 9.49 ERA in 12 1/3 innings before he was placed on the disabled list. It is unclear just when he started to feel discomfort in his right shoulder. He was dealing with mechanical issues in mid-April, but otherwise had not previously reported any issues. There is no current timetable for his return. Wed, May 17, 2017 04:24:00 PM

Nationals catching prospect Raudy Read has been suspended 80 games without pay for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

Read, 23, tested positive for Boldenone, a drug that is on the list of banned PEDs under Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The suspension will be effective at the beginning of the 2018 regular season. Read hit 17 homers with a .767 OPS for Double-A Harrisburg in 2017 and received a September callup to the Nationals after his minor league season was completed.

Zimmerman will need a short rehab assignment first, but it sounds like that might be imminent. The veteran first baseman has been sidelined for nearly two weeks with a strained right oblique. Zimmerman's fill-in, Matt Adams, has really cooled off of late after a hot start.

Daniel Murphy (knee) still hasn't played in any extended spring training games because of illness.

Murphy was supposed to be nearly a week into game action by now, so it must be a nasty bug that he's fighting. The setback would presumably delay his return to the Nationals a bit, although there hasn't been any set timetable at this point.

Eaton is only a little over a week removed from arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle, so this would seem to be a good sign. The outfielder expects to miss about six weeks of action, putting him in line to return in late June if all goes well.

Beat writer Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post said Goodwin is closer to a return than teammate Daniel Murphy (knee) but "not super close." It's been about three weeks since Goodwin landed on the DL with a left wrist contusion.

Jeremy Hellickson left his start Tuesday night against the Padres due to a blister on his right hand.

It doesn't sound like a serious concern, though it's possible Hellickson's next turn will be pushed back a few days. The 31-year-old right-hander tossed 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball before departing and he now boasts a 2.13 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 31/6 K/BB ratio in 38 total innings (seven starts) this season for the Nationals.

Nationals placed RHP Joe Ross on the 60-day disabled list with a right elbow injury.

Ross underwent Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery last July and will miss the majority of the 2018 season. This move cleared out a 40-man roster spot for veteran reliever Joaquin Benoit, who was officially signed to a one-year, $1 million contract on Wednesday morning.

It's a good sign that Madson has already resumed throwing just two days after being placed on the disabled list with a pectoral strain. It's obviously not too severe of an injury. He should be ready to return to the Nationals' bullpen sometime in early June.

Matt Grace (groin) is scheduled to throw live batting practice on Friday.

If that goes well, he should be cleared to resume his minor league rehab assignment. Grace has been on the disabled list since April 21 because of a groin strain. He had to be pulled away from pitching in rehab games earlier this month after tweaking his groin at Triple-A Syracuse.